Cross-track switch

ABSTRACT

An automatic cross-track switch includes trolley-actuated triggers in each track leg which operate to rotate a turntable to permit a trolley to be operated on either one of two intersecting tracks. The turntable mechanism includes an overcenter spring mechanism which assures full movement of the turntable when an appropriate one of the fingers is contacted. If the turntable is already in the correct position, the triggers are deflected out of the way.

United States Patent [19'] Fort [ 1 Jan. 2., 1973 [541 CROSS-TRACK SWITCH [75] lnventor: George E. Fort, New Castle, 1nd.

[7 3] Assignee: American Standard Inc., New York,

[22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 99,629

3,538,853 11/1970 Dehne ..104/130 1,094,026 4/1914 Simmonds 104/35 3,595,174 7/1971 Juve ..104/99 Primary ExaminerGera1d M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-D. W. Keen Attorney-Marechal, Biebel, French & Bugg [5 7] ABSTRACT An automatic cross-track switch includes trolley-actuated triggers in each track leg which operate to rotate a turntable to permit a trolley to be operated on either one of two intersecting tracks. The turntable mechanism includes an overcenter spring mechanism which assures full movement of the turntable when an appropriate one of the fingers is contacted. If the turntable is already in the correct position, the triggers are deflected out of the way.

2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,171,621 2/1916 Matthews....

3,343,498 9/1967 Klamp 1,364,938 1/1921 Knauer ..246/273 PATENTEm 2mm 3.707.921

SHEET 1 BF 2 I511 IN VE N TOR GEORGE E. FORT l6 ATTORNEYS O ww mwg PATENTED 21973 3,707,921

sum 2 OF 2 FIG-4 "Hi so FIG-5 I 68 I up so l6b 22 I60.

FIG-6 CROSS-TRACK SWITCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In installations for movable trolleys, partitions or the like where the doors are suspended on an overhead track system it is often desirable that the tracks be arranged along lines or paths which intersect. Tracks which are open at the bottom for receiving a pendant or other support leading from the trolley to the door must of necessity form a gap at the region of intersection. In light-weight installations or in installations where the diameter of the trolley which is large compared to the weight of the load, such gaps do not adversely interfere with the movement of the trolley. However, where the trolley system supports relatively heavy panels or the like, the gap formed at an intersection becomes intolerable, and accordingly track switches have been used in which a short section of track is mounted on a turntable or the like and which is rotatable selectively to line up with one or the other of the tracks. In the simplest form, such switches consist merely of a short section of track mounted on a rotatable turntable and movable into alignment with one or the other of the tracks.

Before moving the panel or partition through the intersection it is necessary to observe the alignment of the track section, and where it is not in proper alignment it is manually corrected. However, since such tracks are frequently located in the ceilings of large rooms such as ballrooms, convention centers and the like, it becomes necessary to rotate the track section by a T-shaped tool carried on the end of a long pole.

Electrically operated switch connections have been suggested, for example, in Haws et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,341,985 of 1967, which shows a motor-driven rotatable section, effective to transfer the trolley from a first track onto a different track oriented at right angles to the first track. In the present invention, the trolley moves through the switch without transferring onto another track. Examples of trolley-actuated mechanical transfer switches are shown in Portello U.S. Pat. No. 1,449,778 and Robert U.S. Pat. No. 3,022,745.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention of this application is directed to an allmechanical automatic cross-track switch in which a rotatably mounted section of track is automatically aligned so that a trolley may pass along with one or two mutual intersecting tracks with a minimum of effort, thus eliminating the gaps which are normally formed when overhead tracks intersect without the employment of a rotatable track section. The apparatus operates in such a manner that the movable track section is always placed in proper alignment to permit the trolley to pass through the switch.

A short section of track is mounted on a rotatable turntable and is positioned at the intersection of the track sections. Means are provided in the form of operating finger mechanisms associated with each of the track sections to sense the arrival of a trolley. The finger mechanisms are connected by means of suitable actuating rods to levers connected to the turntable, and the turntable is, in turn, controlled by an overcenter mechanism, so that contact by the trolley with one of the fingers causes movement of the turntable into the desired alignment. If the turntable is already in the desired alignment, the fingers permit the trolley to pass without making any change in the alignment of the turntable.

It is accordingly an important object of the invention to provide an all-mechanical automatic cross-track switch, particularly useful for overhead suspended doors, panels and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in an automatic cross-track switch system, of an operator mechanism for the track switch which is positive and foolproof in operation and which requires a minimum of attention by the operator.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a trolley-actuated cross-track switch.

These-and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially broken away plan view of a crosstrack switch constructed according to this invention, looking down on the top of the switch mechanism;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view looking up at the bottom of the switch;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 4; 1

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1 showing the turntable in the position to be operated by a trolley;

FIG. 5 is a section similar to FIG. 4 but taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1 showing the mechanism after it has been operated by a trolley to put the track section into alignment;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section of the finger mechanism taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the manner in which the trolley strikes the operating finger and causes the finger to rotate the turntable.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring generally to the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a pair of intersecting tracks are illustrated at 15 and 16. These tracks are of identical construction and are adapted to be mounted, for example, recessed in a ceiling and suspended by structural supports from above, in a conventional manner, for supporting moving doors, panels, partitions or the like, and are thus useful in dividing large areas into smaller areas. The tracks 15 and 16 are shown as lying along intersecting paths such as would occur where two different partition units are used to divide a room in two different manners, such as longitudinally and transversely. The tracks 15 and 16 are thus considered as being mounted at the same elevation.

The tracks are of the same construction and commonly are of a semi-closed channel shaped construction with inwardly rolled bottom edges 17 for supporting a conventional four-wheel trolley 18 (FIG. 4). The edges 17 define therebetween a space 19 through which a portion of the trolley body extends for supporting a pendant bolt or the like.

The automatic switch means of this invention is illustrated generally at 20 and is fonned with track sections or legs 15a, 15b and 16a, 16b which, in effect, comprise continuations of the respective track sections 15 and l6, and when installed are placed in longitudinal alignment with these track sections.

The switch 20 includes a short section 22 of track which is rotatably mounted at the region of intersection of the track sections 15 and 16, as shown in the bottom plan view of FIG. 2 and in the sectional views of FIGS. 4 and 5. The track section 22, as shown in FIG. 2, is formed with curved ends 23 which form a close clearance with complimentary concave curvatures 24 formed on the adjacent ends of the track sections 150, b and 16a, b. The track section 22 is mounted on a rotatable turntable 25 (FIGS. 3, 4 and by a pair of threaded fasteners 26 (FIG. 2), and by this means the track section 22 is selectively rotatable between either one of two positions in which it is aligned either with the track sections or 16. In FIG. 2, the track section 22 is illustrated as being in alignment with the track sections 16a and 16b.

The adjacent inner ends of the short track sections 15a, b and 16a, b are supported in spacial relation on a switch mounting plate 30 by screws 32, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The turntable extends through an opening formed in the plate 30, and is formed with a post 35 which extends vertically from the turntable 25 upwardly and through a central opening formed in a turntable support plate 40. The plate 40 is mounted above the turntable 25 and is supported in spaced relation to the plate by a pair of spacer blocks 42 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The spacer blocks 42 are mounted on opposite sides of the turntable 25 and further provide means by which the angular rotation of the turntable and the supported track section may be adjusted, as will be described subsequently.

The turntable post is supported for rotation on the support plate by means of a washer or collar 44 (FIGS. 4 and 5) which is attached to the post 35 and which bears on the upper surface of the plate 40.

The track section 22 is rotatable with the turntable 25 through approximately 90 to be aligned selectively with one or the other of the intersecting track sections. The turntable 25 is provided with a short radially-extending pin 45, as shown in FIG. 3. The pin 45 is selectively movable into engagement with one of a pair of threaded stops 46 carried in the ends of the blocks 42, and which may be adjusted to define the extent of rota tion to assure proper alignment of the track section 22 Qvercenter spring means connected to the turntable to assure full or complete movement of the turntable and the associated track section into each of its limit positions may consist of a rod 47 which has one end pivotally connected to the radial pin 45 and which has its opposite end received with an opening in an upright plate 48 mounted on the plate 30. A compression spring 50 is threaded over the pin 47 between the plate 48 and the pin 45.

The automatic cross-track switch of the present invention is operable upon the approach-of the trolley 18 along either of the tracks 15 or 16 to align the rotatably supported track section 22 at the intersection of such tracks to permit the unobstructed passage of the trolley. For this purpose, each of the individual track sections 15a and b and 16a and b are provided with a trigger mechanism illustrated generally at 55. Since all of the trigger mechanisms are essentially identical in construction, only one of such trigger mechanism is described in detail. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, a pair of trigger support brackets 56 are shown as being mounted adjacent a slot 57 formed in the top of the track section. A cross-pin 58 is supported between the upright support brackets 52 and rotatably supports a trigger 60 which extends into the interior of the track.

As shown in the enlarged detail in FIG. 6, the trigger 60 is formed with a forked upper end 60a. Mounted between the forks on the pin 58 is an operated link 62 and which has a remote end pivotally connected to an operator arm 64. A stop plate 65 is carried on the link and is positioned in such a manner as to be engaged by the trigger 60 on movement of the trigger toward the turntable.

The remote end of the arm 64 is laterally offset and is connected to one end of a double ended turntable operator arm 68 (FIG. 1). The corresponding operator arm 64 for the opposite track section is connected to the opposite end of the arm 68. Two of the arms 68 are supported in right-angle relationship on the post 35, separated by a washer 69, as shown in FIG. 4.

The trigger mechanisms 55 provide the means by which the track section 22 is automatically rotated into proper alignment with the approach of a trolley 18 along one of the intersecting track sections. The sequence of operation is illustrated in FIG. 7, which may be taken with FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 4 and 7 a trolley 18 'is shown as approaching a trigger 60, and the track section 22 is shown in the blocking position to the passage of the trolley. When the trolley wheels engage the trigger 60, they deflect the trigger in the direction of the arrow 70 of FIG. 7. In this condition, the link 62 is positioned by its associated arm 68 so that it is leaned or inclined toward the turntable thus bringing the stop member 65 into close proximity to the trigger 60.

Initial deflection of the trigger 60 causes it to engage the stop 65 thus rotating the link to the position shown in full line in FIG. 7. In this position the spring 50 is initially compressed, and the. overcenter action of the spring is sufficient to carrythe turntable and track 22 through its full of rotation, such as shown by the broken lines of FIG. 3. The track section 22 .is now rotated so as to be in alignment and the trolley 18 passes through the switch with little effort. Upon contacting the second trigger 60 in the track section 15b, this trigger is merely deflected. Subsequent trolleys associated with the panel system will now move through these track sections merely deflecting the first and second triggers but without effecting any change in the position of the rotatable track section. Precisely the same operation occurs if a trolley is now directed along track 16 the trigger mechanisms 55 now being armed for operative engagement when a trolley is moved in that direction.

Appropriate precautions may be taken so that two trolleys are not brought into the track section simultaneously so as to create an ambiguous condition or so as to rotate the track section into non-alignment at an improper time. For this purpose, the door panels which may be suspended for the pendant bolt of the trolley may protrude a sufficient extent forward of the trolley so that such panel, by contacting a panel being carried on the transverse track, would prevent engagement of its associated trolley with the trigger.

It will accordingly be seen that this invention provides an essentially foolproof, simple, yet fully automatic track switch for intersecting tracks. It operates without attention of the operator and provides a smooth and unbroken cross-track connection for movable panels, doors or other trolley suspended or supported apparatus.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a system of overhead trolley-suspended panels movable along intersecting ceiling-mounted trolley tracks, an automatic cross-track switch for aligning a short track section at the intersection of two of said tracks into selective alignment therewith providing for unrestricted passage of a said panel thereacross, comprising turntable means supporting said track section for rotation selectively into aligning and blocking positions with respect to each of said intersecting tracks, a separate trigger mechanism associated with each said track leading into said intersection and engageable by a trolley approaching said intersection, each said mechanism including a trigger, means mounting said trigger for pivotal movement in depending relation into the interior of the associated said track, each said mechanism further including a link, means mounting said link on a pivotal axis common with that of said trigger, means connecting each said link to said tumtable to effect said aligning turntable movement in response to movement of said link, stop means between said links and said triggers and engageable by movement of one of said triggers when said turntable is in a relative said blocking position to effect movement of the associated said link and corresponding movement of said turntable into an aligning position.

2. The switch of claim 1 further comprising overcenter spring means connected to said turntable to assure complete movement of said track section into said aligning positions. 

1. In a system of overhead trolley-suspended panels movable along intersecting ceiling-mounted trolley tracks, an automatic cross-track switch for aligning a short track section at the intersection of two of said tracks into selective alignment therewith providing for unrestricted passage of a said panel thereacross, comprising turntable means supporting said track section for rotation selectively into aligning and blocking positions with respect to each of said intersecting tracks, a separate trigger mechanism associated with each said track leading into said intersection and engageable by a trolley approaching said intersection, each said mechanism including a trigger, means mounting said trigger for pivotal movement in depending relation into the interior of the associated said track, each said mechanism further including a link, means mounting said link on a pivotal axis common with that of said trigger, means connecting each said link to said turntable to eFfect said aligning turntable movement in response to movement of said link, stop means between said links and said triggers and engageable by movement of one of said triggers when said turntable is in a relative said blocking position to effect movement of the associated said link and corresponding movement of said turntable into an aligning position.
 2. The switch of claim 1 further comprising overcenter spring means connected to said turntable to assure complete movement of said track section into said aligning positions. 